With the number of vehicles hitting the road, ever on the increase, a concern over the vehicle emission levels which some of these smoke billowing vehicles cause, is a major concern. However, we have to face the fact, vehicles using the internal combustion engine, as a main source of power, are going to be around for a long time. Too many powerful countries and companies have a vested interest in keeping the status quo. … [Read more...]
Keeping 4wds Simple for Harsh Environments
Electronically Challenged During my apprentice days, I came across the KISS principle. You found out what this meant as soon as you tried to offer up a complicated solution to a problem and met with the answer, "K(eep) I(t) S(imple) S(tupid)!" … [Read more...]
Preventing a 4wd Rollover on an Unsealed Road
A recent event has prompted me to revisit this subject. Fortunately, all involved were not seriously hurt but so easily could have been. Therefore, I believe it is important to address why this type of MVC occurs frequently and to seemingly "experienced" national drivers, the "old Africa hands" and newcomers alike? … [Read more...]
A High Lift Jack is an Invaluable Piece of Equipment
A while ago I wrote an article on winches and asked the question as to their viability. In the article, I discussed that unless you were a complete 4wd nutter like myself or working / living in an environment where you are likely to get stuck on a near daily basis then -- pretty much a waste of money. One piece of equipment that is, in my opinion, invaluable is the high-lift jack. There are various makes including hi-lift and jack-all but they all do much the same thing; only some have a higher … [Read more...]
Applying Awareness Levels to Driving in Kenya
Preparing for my recent driving trips to Kenya, I found that road security getting worse. Everyone I spoke to, has either suffered from an incident or knows personally, of someone who has. In Nairobi alone, there are on average 64 car-jackings per week - this equates to roughly one every three hours! There are many theories as to why the situation is so bad ... and deteriorating ... but as a visitor to the city, I am more interested in how to stay out of trouble. First Line of Defense The … [Read more...]
Mud Glorious Mud: The Basics of Driving Through Mud
Although soil conditions may change from heavy clay to the renowned "black cotton", dealing with mud is approached in much the same way. The only difference really is how your tyres will clog up. Driving through shallow mud (2" deep or less) The ideal situation is to have the full weight of the vehicle pushing your tyres through the mud and attempting to grip onto the firm ground underneath. To do this you have to have your tyres at the correct pressure. If the pressure is too low then you … [Read more...]
Be Prepared For Driving in Uganda
Driving in Uganda used to be described as a "series of near misses". Unfortunately, this trend has now altered and we are seeing more and more MVCs happening. Why is this? Once this question has been answered then therein lies a solution. … [Read more...]
About Buying a 2nd Hand 4wd Import in Uganda
Buying a second hand vehicle (in Uganda) can be a bit of a gamble at the best of times, but throw in vagaries of this environment and you could have better luck taking the money to the Kampala Casino -- and that's saying something! Having been round the second hand and Japanese import depots over the last few years, I am not that surprised these days at what I see. But recently I went to look at a vehicle for an organisation and the battery was flat. Not surprised; but what happened next did … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Winch?
Picking recovery equipment for your vehicle is a bit like selecting a 4wd. First, you need to examine where, when and what you are going to be doing - then selecting the equipment most suitable. I tend to overkill on the equipment I carry around, mainly because I have been stuck in situations where I had wished I had brought such and such along. But then again I go looking for it. Its my job and my hobby!! Why Fit a Winch? A lot of people want to get a power winch. Why? Because they look … [Read more...]
How To Prevent A 4wd Rollover On Unsealed Roads
Having rolled a vehicle back in my early days working upcountry in Uganda, I learnt the hard way about the dangers of unsealed roads. Since then, I've treated this very dangerous road surface with the utmost respect. … [Read more...]